The biggest part of fursuiting? Fursuit performance! You just spent hundreds, or thousands of dollars commissioning, or building your fursuit. Don't waste it by being a boring performer! How you act in suit is key to it's expression and personality. It takes some time to build up your fursuit's character. However, it also is a very fun process! Here are some tips on how to learn, or improve your performance and character in your fursuit.

Before we begin, we have to say, that while it is better to perform and not be boring, the #1 thing with fursuiting is:It is Your fursuit, you suit how you want! Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do performance wise in suit. It's your character, make them what you want them to be!This is simply some tips on giving them a character, they are not rules by any means!

Learning The Fursuits Personality and Character﻿

The most important step! There are many ways you can interpret your suit's character. Here is a list of ways you can figure out how to perform in your fursuit.1-Upon receiving or finishing your suit, look at the mask carefully. Learn the expression(s) and what angles they show at while looking at it out of suit. Once you feel you have an idea, you can put the mask on go to the next step. Be sure to keep in mind the character you created, look at the art and ref sheet you have and see how it is portrayed. Sometimes character can change once a fursuit is made, but don't forget the character your originally created! Always keep that in mind.2-Look at yourself in a mirror! With the blind spot, this can be a little difficult, but this helps you see what others will be seeing. This is how you can learn what angle gives what expression (Mostly for following eye suits, as normal eyed suits don't have much of a range of expressions. This does depend however.) Do poses, and perform for yourself. It will feel strange, but this step helps quite a bit. Once you have a nice grasp on expression, good poses, and some little acts, you can move on to the next step.3-Get a camera, any camera, and perform in front of it. Perform like you would in front of people! Do lots of different poses and all that cool stuff, and once you have desuited watch the video. Study your movements and how you act, see what you like and what you don't. Take as many videos as you desire until you are satisfied with your performance.4-This may not be available for everyone, but if it is, perform for a family member or friend! Tell them you're learning how to act in your new costume, and you are looking for tips and pointers. Act like you would out and about, and see how they react to your performance. Once you feel you have performed enough ask for their critique and work off of that.5-The ultimate test! Go out and have fun! Whether in public or at a convention, this is where your practice comes out to play. But of course, if you are in public, act appropriate at all times. Some people do perform different when they are around other furries, so make sure it is appropriate for all ages when out and about outside of a convention.

Now, go out and have fun fursuiting!

Know Your Audience

Photo by Kijani Lion

Want to watch an episode on this topic? Check it out here!Coming soon!

This is also a key point in fursuiting. Knowing your audience is very important! It also should be known, every single person will react differently! It is very important to see how they react to you, before advancing in interaction. We can speak of public first. Children for example, you seriously never how they will react, it can be so different from kid to kid. When you see them looking at you, give a kind and simple wave. See how they react, see what facial expression they show, and work off of that. If they smile or walk towards you, hold out a paw for a high five! (Or high four). If they engage in the interaction, you can then move on to hugs if desired (just hold out your arms, let them engage you), be sure to go up slowly. This can also be the same for adults, as you'd be surprised how many are scared of fursuits. So always be sure to look at their body language and facial expressions before advancing. Never run up to a person if they look like they don't want to interact with you! This can look bad on others if you scare people. Be respectful of people's personal space, and their emotions.In a convention setting, it will be drastically different as everyone there knows fursuits and what not. You do not have to be as careful in this setting, however, still respect people's personal space. Mostly other fursuiters, don't do something to make you look bad or others not comfortable around you. (and if your not in a suit, respect fursuiters! Do not make them uncomfortable! See Interaction page for more info).No matter which setting, be sure to act appropriate. As inappropriate behavior can make people uncomfortable. If you are around friends it of course can happen, but when around people you don't know, be respectful. Con settings of course people can act out, but if you are in public, be appropriate at all times.

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